For this analysis I will be looking at two different
contents pages, the first is GQ.
The target audience of GQ is mainly 21-35 males, it is
generically known for being a popular fashion magazine however offers a lot
more in terms of lifestyle. It shows you a lifestyle you can live regardless of
your of your income level. It informs you about current styles and trends, food
and even regards to sex life.
Layout – The GQ contents page has a very minimalistic look
to it, everything is much conformed to a very simple design. It almost goes
against convention of other contents pages as it uses different sections to
list page number depending on the category you are most interested in – GQ
intelligence, features and fashion. This makes it much easier for the reader to
identify the particular topic they are most interested in reading. The
effective use of using the magazines logo in the top right gives the contents
page a professional feel to it.
Colour – The white background adds to the minimalistic feel
of the magazine mentioned earlier, a busy background can sometimes draw
attention away from what the magazine publisher wants the reader to be looking
at. The combination of such a plain background and the use of vibrant colours
to represent the different sections in the magazine is effective. It stands
out, the colours are fun and exciting, and this could be a representation of
the lifestyle they want you to be interested in. Overall the colours do not
clash the use of red, green and blue does not represent an emotion as such but
more of an idea, simplicity. The simplicity of the contents page works, you
don’t have to think about it, this is a common convention in GQ magazines.
Typography – The fonts used on the contents page are in
conformity to each other, there is no font more fancy or complicated than the
others, adding to the simplistic feel of the magazine. Variation of fonts can
make the contents page look busy and deter a potential reader. The font is more
bold and bigger in size looking at the page title, it then gives you a short
description of what the story is about underneath in smaller and thinner text.
Images – The images used on this contents page are large and
of a high quality, they go against convention as man contents pages do not have
more than one or two pictures, they do not relate to each other, I see this as
a positive as it makes it look as though the contents of the magazine is very
diverse, rather than having three pictures of men in suits they have only
included one, accompanied with a pictures of food and another black and white
photo behind which stands out due to its unconformity of the vibrant colours
used throughout the contents page. The sizing of the pictures is irrelevant to
their importance as they are unaccompanied by text to show exactly what they
are about. They are simply there to be used as teaser and also to look
aesthetically pleasing. If a reader is interested in the images used they may
be more likely to read on in the magazine or look at contents page to see if
they can find accompanying text regarding the image they were interested in.
Conclusion – Overall I think that the GQ contents page is
very simple and has a minimalistic feel to it, it is not overpowering in terms
of text or images, the balance between them is just right. It serves it purpose
as it gives the reader exactly the information you would expect to see on a
contents page. They have cleverly used colours to filter or sort the different
stories found in the magazine into the design of their contents page. There are
no obvious faults in the design of the magazine and it would be interesting to
see other contents pages from GQ that are from a different time of year or the
stories inside are of a complete different nature.
Empire magazine contents page analysis
Empire magazine is a popular movie magazine aimed at 18-30
year olds, it includes review on all the latest movies which to some act as a
decision to see a movie or not, personally I would say this particular magazine
is aimed at those in social classes C1 and above. To view a movie in a cinema
in the modern day is becoming ever more expensive and the magazine itself is
£3.99
Layout – Immediately it is easy to identify that the use of
images is important to Empire magazine, straight away you can see that the
contents page has been built around the image and not the other way around. The
word “Contents” is being covered by the female which shows this image
dominance, people don’t need reminding that the first page in a magazine is a
contents page. The page number is very clear on the black background and
overall the layout seems much boxed in and dramatic. The clearness of the page
number is appealing to the reader as it does what a contents page should do, it
tells you what stories are where throughout the magazine.
Colour – The contents page uses a 3 colour palette which is
a common convention is successful magazines such as empire. The background
picture is black and it has a very dramatic feel to it, there is nothing in the
background that breaks it up no pink flamingo in the background to divert your
attention away from the important information the designer wants you to look
at. The red used adds to this dramatic and almost dark feel the magazine
extrudes. Red is commonly associated with blood, murder or even love, passion
or desire. The white is used simply to stand out, the important information is
colour white as that is what the designer wants you to be looking at. The
colour palette ensures that it is not aesthetically pleasing to the reader and
makes it look conformed, not busy which may deter potential readers.
Typography – The word “Contents” is the main feature text
wise simply because it is the biggest, the font used is not fancy or elegant
but bold and simply, adding to the dramatic mood the magazine has. Again the
colouring of certain pieces are text work well with the design of the magazine
and fit in with the colour palette, personally I think that the red colouring
of the page titles is straining on the black background and would be more
suited to be placed on a brighter background. The page numbers stand out due to
their tactical colouring the font used for the numbers has more elegance and
class to it than the rest of the text used which is simple, bold and to the point.
Too much text equals a busy page, I think the dominance of the photograph used
in the background does make this contents page look busy which may deter
potential readers.
Images – The whole background of the contents page is one
image, with the woman being the obvious point of interest, it supports Laura
Mulvey’s theory that woman are used in magazines in order to attract males to
read on or even just buy a magazine in the first place. The image is unusual,
you cannot tell what is going on from just looking at the picture. The only
detail you are shown is that the woman is in handcuffs, her facial expression
is almost emotionless, however a small smirk indicates guilt or mischief. The
image may make the background look busy when text is added on top however
overall I think that the photo gives the contents page a feeling or mood to it,
drama and guilt.
Conclusion – Overall empire magazine’s content page
generates a dramatic and mysterious mood to it, these moods are popular within
the movie industry which may be influential to the designer’s choice of
colours, personally I think that it does look busy however I think a simple
tweaking of colours would fix this issue. It is fit for purpose and has all the
necessary information you would expect to find on a magazine however it does
not offer any insight to the contents of the magazine with other teaser images
which I think would benefit the contents page overall.
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